Liberal Democrat Education Association

Preface

Welcome to the LDEA's Spring Conference 2013 booklet, packed with insights, opinions and information about Lib Dem current education policies and thinking. Many thanks to the Lib Dem Group of the Local Government Association for printing this booklet on behalf of the LDEA.

Issues covered in the edition cover a wide spectrum of topical issues from Secure Children's Homes to the importance of music in the curriculum to current thinking on vocational education. In particular, we are very much looking forward in this edition to 2015, and I hope you will find the time to read James Kempton's introductory piece on how members can contribute to education policy formation in the near future.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has closed the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Brighton by calling on members to spread the message of the Party's commitment in Government to deliver a stronger economy and a fairer society.

In his keynote Leader's speech, Nick paid tribute to the work of the Party in winning the Eastleigh by-election, beating the Conservatives into third place and squeezing Labour while campaigning on the Lib Dem record of delivering in Government.

The Autumn Conference 2012 booklet is now available on this site on the Download Page.

The last twelve months have been lit up by moments that will stay with us forever. When Mo Farah approached the final stretch of the 10,000m final, who wasn't up on their feet, screaming at the TV?

When Nicola Adams beamed at the crowd after winning the first ever women's Olympic boxing, who didn't smile back? I was lucky enough to be there, and that's one I'll never forget.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has used his keynote speech to the Lib Dem Party conference in Brighton to announce extra money for 110,000 children struggling with maths and English.

The Deputy Prime Minister said secondary schools in England will receive an extra £55 million to help pupils arriving in year seven who have slipped behind in English and maths at primary school. The money will come in from next January, with schools deciding how to spend it to help pupils with weaker results in maths and English.